OREGONBTATECOLLEG~_
VOLUME VII
NUMBER 1
Promising Pole Bean Varieties Tested
Improved Facilities Completed
for Insec:ticide ~Research
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New facilities for insect toxicology work
have recently been completed by the Ento­
mology Department. Located in Cordley Hall,
the laborato~y will be used for teaching, re­
search, and~ general service to staff members
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Several Blue Lake pole bean breeding
lines, somewhat resembling FM-1 iil growth
habit, but varying sUghtly in earliness, pod
type, and uniformity have been tested both at
Corvallis and by different growers and proces:"
sors. The most promising of these lines are:
FM-I-P. Slightly earlier than FM-l.
Otherwise somewhat simi­
lar. Considerable acreage
now grown.
In addition to offices and a main chemis­
try lab, facUities include space for work on
special formulations. Here t a series of dusts
wettable powders or emulsions can be made
to fit a particular problem. This room will
be used for storage of highly toxic insecti­
cides as well as inert materials t solvents t
and wetting agents used in making formu­
lations.
FM-I-M. Has yielded well in most
tests. Rather uniform for
pod type. Considered a good
strain of FM-1.
t
The room is equipped with forced draft
ventilation through a special duct in the roof
so work can be carried on with toxic materi­
als without danger to the experimentor.
(continued next page)
Other lines approaching FM-1 type are F,
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _'. D, L, and 1-1. Asgrow 1209-4, one of the
new Asgrow lines grown in 1957, has Vigor­
ous vines with medium heavy foliage at base.
I n This Issue
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Pods are aUghtly longer than those of FM-1.
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FM-1-K. Appears slightly later than
FM-1. May grade out better
than FM-1. Yields have
generally been satisfactory,
although data are not availa­
ble on wide-scale testing as
with 1P and 1M.
Promising Pole Bean Varieties • • . . .
FaciUties for Insecticide Research. . .
Selected FertiUzers for Onions . • . . .
P4Lstic Mulches. . . . • . . . . • . •
Onion Hybrids Studied at Lake Labish .
Research Findings Reported • . • • •.
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No replicated yield test of pole beans was
laid out at the OSC vegetable farm in 1957.
Approximately 300 breeding lines and varie­
ties were grown for observation of the general
uniformity of plants and pods. The most
promising of these will be placed in yield tests
in 1958.
(continued on page 6)
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Improved Facilities... (continU~d from page 1)
Temperature controlled and venti­
lated rearing rooms are included in
the new set-up. Staff members can
now rear insects under constant con­
ditions. In many cases progress will
be speeded up on a problem by pro­
viding test insects whenever needed.
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Improved facilities are also avail­
able for testing insecticides. Pre­
cision spraying and dusting equipment
for small-scale work will make it
possible to apply known amounts of
insecticides to individual plants or in­
sects.
With this equipment, laboratory
tests can be conducted more accu­
rately. Materials for a given job can
be compared and the most promising ones taken to the field, with an overall saving in re­
search time.
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Not only will new facili­
ties provide better service
to the department on current
problems, but new research
can be initiated. Basic re­
search will be made on the
resistance problem. using
radioactive insecticides.
Another project will be a
study of methods of control
for the common garden slug.
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These modern research
facilities should make it pos­
sible to interest federal agen­
cies and private industry in
establishing additional re­
search grants with the depart­
ment. Such grants help sup­
port equipment and supply
budgets, bring graduate stu­
dents, and increase the
amount of research which can be done in the pest control field. The U. S. Army Surgeon
Generals Office and the National Science Foundation are already contributing to expenses in­
volved in maintaining insect rearing rooms.
--L. C. Terriere
Entomology & Agricultural Chemistry Depts.
• • •
Oregon's Vegetable Digest is published four times a year by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon
State College, Corvallis. F. E. Price, Director. Address correspondence to the author concerned or to the
Department of Horticulture.
Material may be reprinted providing no endorsement of a commercial product is stated or implied. Please credit
Oregon State College. To simplify technical terminology, trade names of products or equipmen~ sometimes will be
used, No endorsement of products named is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
3
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7<e4edt4.•.
Selected Fertilizers for Onions
Onion fertilizer trials were conducted on a peat soil in the Lake Labish area near Salem in
1956 and 1957. Cooperating were Don Rasmussen, Marion County Extension Agent, and Les
Klampe, a grower.
Fertilizer materials were machine banded and the onions seeded immediately afterward.
Fertilizer was placed two inches below the seed. Different rates of nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, sulfur, copper, magnesium, and boron (table 1) were 'included.
Normal cultural praotices. as well as supplemental irrigation, were used. After pulling
and ouring, onions were topped and graded into three .sizes. Yield data are based on total
yields expressed in number of 50-pound bags per acre.
Significant yield increases resulted from applications of phosphorus and potassium ferti­
lizers as indicated in table 1. The SO-pound rate of P205produced higher average yields than
the 160-pound rate in 1966. Likewise, the IOO-pound rate of K2 0 resulted in higher average
yields than the 200-pourid rate.
Differences in yield due to various rates of phosphorus and potassium were not as clearly
defined in 1957 as in 1956 t although increases in yield were obtained. Yields in 1957 were
lower than in 1956. Fairly heavy incidence of mildew in 1957 probably contributed to lower
yields. Yield effects from nitrogen applications were not consistent.
Small responses to copper indic.ate that this element should be included in further trials
No indication of a response to magnesium, boron, or sulfur was evident.
II
Broadcast applications on the soil surface just prior to seeding resulted in lower yields
than when the fertilizers were banded below the seed. Further work is needed on methods of
applying materials,. It may be advisable to band all the phosphorus with a part of the nitrogen
and potassium at planting. with the other nitrogen and potassium having been broadcast and
worked into the seedbed prior to planting.
These are preliminary results since additional information about the best rates of, and
application methods for, fertilizer materials in the Lake Labish area would be needed to
establish definite recommendations.
(continued on page 7)
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lIetJUa&e 1tfJte...
California Agriculture, September 1957, reports zinc deficiency of canning tomatoes in
areas of three California counties. Young, direct seeded tomatoes reached a two-inch height
after two months of growth in badly deficient soils. Stunting of transplanted plants occurs in
about three weeks, with orange color and necrotic spots frequently developing on older leaves.
Soil and foliage applications of zinc compounds are being studied for correction of the deficiency.
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Plastic Mulch for Increased Yields
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Three years of experimental plantings at the Oregon State College vegetable farm have
shown that use of black 1-1/2 mil (0. 0015") polyethylene plastic as a mulch will increase yields
of several vegetable crops grown in the Pacific Northwest.
Cost of 1-1/2 mil black polyethylene film has been reduced through increased production
and better distribution, making it available in quantity at apprOXimately 1/2 oent per square
foot. If 4-foot, strips of plastic are used with 2 feet between strips, two-thirds of the ground
area is covered. This equals $145.00 per acre for plastic. The following tables show yields
of Borne vegetable crops tested.
Crop
Tons per acre
Non-mulched
Year
Mulched
Tomatoes
OSC Selection
Victor
Stokesdale
1955
1956
1957
8.7
8.8
7.6
14.0
20.0
26.7
Pole Beans
Blue Lake
Blue Lake
1956
1957
9.0
8.9
13.3
11.6
Cantaloupe
Granite State
1955
1.3
6.4
Head Lettuce
1957
0.4
Lbs. per head
1.2
Under northwest climatic conditions black plastic will last several years and can often be
reclaimed after each growing 8eason~ In addition to increasing yields J plastic controls weed
growth be~eath It, reduces water evaporation from the Boil surface, and reduces soil com­
paction. This decreases amounts of irrigation and cultivation necessary.
Costs of irriga~ion and cultivation vary with crop. climate, and soil conditions. Poly~
ethylene plastic used as a mulch reduces cultivation costs and irrigation expenses in pro­
portion to the number of irrigations nece,Baary.
Experiments on other crops show adaptability to growth under plastic. Observation tests
indicate that cucumbers, green peppers J egg plants, and lima beans may possibly show yield
increases with plastic mulching.
- - V. A. Clarkson
Horticulture Department
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Stall 1!t<Jt,te--­
Roland Groder, Extension Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Specialist, has moved from
Snell Hall 232 to Cordley Hall, room 348. His phone number is campus extension 278.
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, Onion
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Hyb~ids
Studied at l,ake Labish
Eight of the most promising onion hybrids developed by either the
USDA or seedsmen were compared with Yellow Globe Danvers and
three open-pollinated Oregon State College lines on two farms at
Lake Labish. The Oregon State lines originated from open polUnation of Australian Brown, Yellow Globe Danvers, Bohnert Sweet
Spanish, and hybrid Yellow Globe. They remain highly
heterozygous, but have been carried through three
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generations of selection based on bulb size and shape.
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Yield data secured at the Kurth and Rickard farms
are shown in table 1. To reduce stand influences the
plants were thinned to 4 per foot at the Rickard farm
and 5.2 plants per foot at the Kurth farm. Hybrid
B2228 x B2215 (Jones) did not appear to germinate as
well as others and stands averaged 3. 7 plants per foot
(instead of 4) at the Rickard farm, and 3.8 plants per
foot (instead of 5.2) at the Kurth farm.
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Varieties Abundance and Surprise were the
heaviest yielding hybrids, significantly outyielding Danvers. None of the other hybrids
significantly outyielded Danvers.
The three Oregon State lines appear to have a good yield potential. Selected bulbs will be
sent to Dr. Franklin of Idaho', who will develop hybrid lines from them.
Storage data will be secured later. Both strains of Danvers were stored, since there may
be a differential storage capacity between strains selected by growers over a long period of
years.
Data indicate that a heavy yielding hybrid type such as Abundance may be planted to ad­
vantage in the. Lake Labish area for fall and early winter markets. Surprise would have to be
handled in a similar manner but could be kept slightly longer, on the basis of past storage
tests. Tendency for doubling of Surprise was not pronounced in these tests.
- - W. A. Frazier
Horticulture Department
(continued on page 8)
Research Findings Reported at Annual Meeting
Research findings and new industry developments were reported during the State Horti­
cultural Society's annual meeting, held at Oregon State College, December 5-6.
Vegetable fertilizers were discussed by panel:w.enbers S. B. Apple, George Johannessen,
R. M. Bullock, T. L. Jackson, and H.•J. Mack. Recent developments in breeding pole and
bush beans were reviewed by W. A. Frazier.
Progress being made with mechanical pole bean harvesters was reported by Hugh Brownlee
of Food Machinery Corporation. A new type of picker head, tested late in the season, is
promising. he indicated.
(continued on next, pa[,';e)
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Researe h Find!in;gs Reported••,. (continued from page 5)
Production methods of the east and west coasts were compared by the Birdseye representa­
tive. Art McAllister. He discussed peas, sweet corn J and bean. J .tressing the impact of the
developing revolution in mechanical harvesting of bush beans.
.i
Plastic mulch uses for vegetable crops was reported by Vern Clarkson, formerly on the
Horticulture staff at Oregon State Col1ele~
Value and limitations of solI tests were reported. as well as a summary of three years'
work on sweet corn irrigation at the vegetable crops farm.
J. A. Vomooil, 8011 physicist. University of California. told of soil compaction research
underway in California.
Also included in the vegetable .seotion of the meeting were progress reports on pole bean
production costs, symphyl11d researc·h in relation to large-scale solI fumigation, and weed
control data on vegetable crops.
Future Digest articles will deal with some of these topics in more detail. Papers from the
oonferenoe will be published in the annual report of the Oregon State Horticultural Society
magazine. For membership, contaot C. O. Rawlings. Horticulture Department, Oregon
State College.
Officers of the Society for 1958 are Orville Hamilton. Central Point , president; Walter
Leth, Independence, first vice-president; William Hazeltine, Parkdale, second Vice-president;
Steven Nye, Medford, third Vice-president; C. 0 •. Rawlings, secretary; and P·aul Willard,
Salem, treasurer.
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Promising Bean Varieties••• (continued from page 1)
Among the OBC breeding lines, several selfed .selections of 103 and 104 have been continued
and are more uniform in behavior than previous massed seed lot.s. These have generally
produced heavier yields t~n asc 135. At least one of the 135 selections has been continued,
since this bean apparently combines more characters of possible use in mechanical harvesting
than any other Blue Lake variety.
Crosses involving Columbia as one parent have not produced promising selections. The
most characteristic weakness has been a light pod color oombined with heavy basal 'foliage.
A selection of IP x 135 will be tested in 1958, since it Is early. apparently yields well, and
rated high in processing quality.
Several selfed lines of aBC 91, tested at Corvallis and other locations are being maintained.
These lines. and hybrids involving them, provide selections of slightly smaller pod diameter than
FM-l and a pod color intermediate between FM-l and Asgrow 92.
- - W.. A. Frazier
Horticulture Department
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Selected Fertilizers for Onions... (conttnued from page 3)
T·able 1. Effects of fertilizer treatments on yields of Yellow Globe
Danvers onions. Lake Labish area. 1956 and 1957. *
__.~._~_tAY~:rag~yteld_m 50-lb. bags peraQre)
Treatments - 1956
Yield
Treatments - 1957
Lbs. of N-P205-K20 per acre~·
--Us:-oJ N~Y205~~.Oper aore
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(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
0-0-0 (check) - - - - - .. - 0-160-200-- - - - - - - - 25-0-0- - - - - - - - - - - 25-0-100 - - - - - - - - - 25-0-200 - - - - - - - - - 25-80-0- - - - - - - - - - 25-80-100" - - - - - - - - 25-80-200- - - - - - - - ~ 25-160-0 - - - - - - - - - 25-160-100 _ .. - - - - - - 25-160-200 - - - - - - - - 100-160-200 - - - - - - - 25-160-200 plus copper- - 25-160-200 plus magnesium
25-160-200 (no sulfur) - - 25-80-100 (broadcast) - - LSD 5%
1%
*
'*. *
- 684
- 1200
- 987
-1106
- 911
- 1092
- 1204
- 1168
~ 970
- 1112
-1144
- 1120
-1191
- 1096
- 1125
- 966
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
153
204
In 1956 all treatments except 1 and 15 received a uniform broadcast application of gypsum
as· a sulfur supply.
Sources of materials were as follows:
Nitrogen
Ammonium nitrate
Phosphoru8
Treble Buperphosphate
Potassium
Muriate of potash
Soils Department
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Yield
0-0-0 (check)- - - - ... - - - - - 570
0-120-80- - -- - - .. - - - - - -656
20-0-0 - - - - - - - - - - - 555
20-0-80 - - - - - - - - ..... 896
20-60-8G-" - - ...... - - - - - - - 867
20-120-0- - .. - - - - - - - ... - - 705
20-120-80 - - - - - - - - - - - 775
20-120-160 - - - - - - - .. --- 829
20-120-80 pluB 80# K20 bdost 834
20-120-80 plus copper- - 909
20-120-80 plus Boron- - .. - .. -- 806
20-120-80 plus 20# N bdcst. - - 748
LSD 5%
186
1%
248
- - H. J. Mack
Horticulture Department
- - T. L. Jackson
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Onion Hy'brids••• (continued from page 5)
Table 1. Lake Lablsh, 1957. Onion Yields.
Kurth farm
Plot 1
Plot 2
Variety
Danver(l)
Yield in 50-lb. bags per acre
Mean yield
Rickard farm
Avera«e of 4 plots
Plot 2
Plot 1
888
1006
710
799
851
932
1228
1095
1228
755
829
858
918
910
1051
918
918
888'
932
829
814
1095
1650
1066
OBC Yellow(2)
903
1066
OSC Red(2)
OSC Brown (2)
962
977
Autumn Topper
784
B2228A x B2215C
(6N90)
Abundance
B2228 x B2215
(Jones)
Epooh
Surprise
696
840
977
814
992
862
1029
1051
829
710
914
1006
1006
918
888
829
962
888
873
947
962
918
962
1006
622
740
Ia467-8A x
B2215C (6N3)
B2267Ax B2215C
(6N9)
(,
929
944
940
977
766
108
20:1
146
~dds 100:1
(1) Yellow Globe Danvers. Kurth strain (at Kurth farm) and Rickard strain (at Rickard farm).
(2) Open pollinated lines from complex crOBS. Highly variable for color as yet.
Least significant difference.
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